Soil health workshop, farm equipment demo on April 25

Thursday

Mar 27, 2014 at 3:15 AM

MILTON MILLS — Want to improve the quality and productivity of your soil? The Strafford County Conservation District (SCCD) has specialty farm equipment available for rent! In Partnership with Moose Mountains Regional Greenways and Branch Hill Farm, SCCD will hold an on-farm soil health workshop and equipment demonstration so you can see in-action the equipment available for you to rent at low cost!

The event will take place at Branch Hill Farm from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday April 25. The workshop is free, but please let us know you’re coming! RSVP to Vicky Stafford at SCCD: info@straffordccd.org or (603) 749-3037.

See the ash spreader, soil aerator, no-till seeder in action and learn about ways this equipment can help improve your soil health! Daimon Meeh, UNH Extension Field Specialist in Food and Agriculture, will speak on ways to be successful transitioning to no-till practices. At the workshop, we will also discuss use of a Yeoman’s Plow, which will be available for rent to farmers in upcoming months.

This workshop and equipment rental program is part of the Rockingham and Strafford County Great Bay Nutrient Management Initiative. The primary goal of the Initiative Management Initiative is to demonstrate ways to increase soil productivity while decreasing soil erosion and the use of fertilizers. Excess nitrogen in surface waters has been identified as the leading cause of the declining environmental health of Great Bay.

Purchased with funds from the sale of NH Conservation Plates (Moose Plates), the no-till seeder is available to help producers manage land in ways that protect important soil structure, organic matter, and reduce compaction. No-till practices also help reduce soil erosion and reduce storm water runoff.

The NH State Conservation Committee, “Moose Plate” Conservation Grant Program has provided funds for the purchase of a Stoltzfus wet lime spreader which is ready for spring rentals at a reasonable cost to farmers within Strafford and Rockingham counties. The districts have an AerWay soil aerator provided through funding from the NH Association of Conservation Districts and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Additionally, a Yeoman’s Plow will be available for rent starting in summer 2014, to help farmers alleviate deep soil compaction. Attend the workshop to learn about how this equipment can improve your soil productivity while helping to reduce nutrient runoff into Great Bay!